Talking Points – October 2024

WIDCOMBE ASSOCIATION AUTUMN MEMBERS MEETING: A GENTLE REMINDER

As previously advised, the autumn meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 October at Widcombe Social Club starting at 7.30pm. There will be an update on the Committee’s discussions about the Future of the Association which will be followed by a talk from a representative of Julian House who will tell us about the work they do and the challenges they face. If any member wishes to raise an item of business please note that 14 days notice of this should be sent to the Secretary at secretary@widcombeassociation.org.uk.

HOME ENERGY BRIEFING FOR FOBRA – THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 6.30PM

Federation of Bath Residents’ Association members are invited to join an on-line seminar covering the support available from the not-for-profit Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) and others to make your home more energy efficient, and find out how individual Associations can support residents to do this. As a member of a residents’ association affiliated to FoBRA, you can join in for a special briefing covering the support available from BWCE and others to make your home more energy efficient, and how your Association can support residents to do this.

The seminar will cover:

1. Energy assessments
2. Home Energy Neighbourhoods
3. Green Open Homes B&NES: the flagship Bath event is on the 12 and 13 October, and an overview of the range of homes involved
4. Green Heritage Homes
5. Talks for individual Residents Associations
6. Q&A

The session is likely to run for around an hour and will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.  Register here and a joining link will be sent : https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bathwestcommunityenergy/1381412

GO GREEN WIDCOMBE: TALK AT WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB – WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 7PM

Chris Kille, MD of Bath-based BPM Contracting Services (a Retrofit Installer who is listed on the Retrofit West website) will talk you through the main considerations of Retrofit, focussing upon Insulation, Heating and Ventilation. He will talk about the benefits of upgrading your home in these areas and will also provide Case Studies of similar projects carried out on Georgian Listed Buildings, Victorian Terraces and 1960s/1970s Houses.  There will be a Question & Answer Session and the chance for interested parties to chat with Chris and his colleague, Peter Guerrini, their Operations Manager, about possible Retrofit Projects for your house.

Book here: https://widcombe-association.whitefuse.net/events/retrofitting-your-home-reduce-heat-loss

WESTWOOD MANOR: PRIVATE TOUR – FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2.30PM

Westwood Manor is a small and very beautiful 15th and 16th century manor house near Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. It has fine medieval, Tudor and Jacobean features and contains a remarkable collection of furniture and rare musical instruments. It belonged to Edgar Lister from 1911 to 1956 and he bequeathed the house and all its contents to the National Trust on his death. Mr and Mrs Azis are the current tenants and have lived in the house for 35 years. This private tour will allow you to experience the charm and domestic peace of this much loved house for yourselves. The tour is informal and allows you plenty of time to ask questions.

Book here:  https://widcombe-association.whitefuse.net/events/wa-private-tour-of-westwood-manor

BECKFORD’S TOWER: TALK AT WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB –  WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER – 7 FOR 7.30PM

We are very fortunate to welcome Dr Amy Frost, Senior Curator at the Bath Preservation Trust, who will talk to us about the very well-known Bath landmark, Beckford’s Tower, which has recently undergone a £3.9million conservation and reimagining project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This talk will explore the history of the Tower and its creator William Beckford, and how the museum is telling the challenging stories of Beckford’s complicity in transatlantic slavery, and how he used his privilege and power to create and abuse.

Book here: https://widcombe-association.whitefuse.net/events/beckford-s-tower-restored-reimagined-and-truth-revealed

WIDCOMBE CHRISTMAS MARKET – 16-17 NOVEMBER

This ever-popular returns this year – bigger and better than ever. Full details will be available later but please make a note of the dates in your diaries.

GO GREEN WIDCOMBE: TALK AT WIDCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB – WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER AT 7PM

A talk about heat pumps by Philip Haile of Transition Bath. This will cover how they work, the impact on your home’s carbon emissions, suitable homes, insulation, historic homes, where to locate the heat pump and cylinder in your home, installation process and costs. A £7.5k Boiler upgrade scheme grant is currently available.

Further details in due course at https://widcombe-association.whitefuse.net/pages/3-events

Best wishes